THE RHUBARB TAVERN, BARTON HILL

The Rhubarb Tavern is the oldest surviving building in Barton Hill - it was originally an eighteenth century farmhouse.

From the earliest mention of the area in the Domesday Book until the 1830s this area changed very little. It was a sparsely populated country area with rhubarb fields in abundance. In 1836 the Cotton Factory was built in Barton Hill, transforming the area. The rhubarb fields were built on and like so many Inns of the time a domestic house was taken over and converted into a drinking venue and the aptly named Rhubarb Tavern was opened.

The front of the pub is a modern extension built about the turn of the century in a similar style to the Hauliers Arms further up in the Redfield area.

The pub originally had a fine long garden. The back of the pub retains some features of the earlier house before its conversion. It was reported that many years ago a tunnel connected the pub to the Feeder Canal.

The road that runs along by the tavern now is known as Queen Ann Road but was originally called Pottery Lane. Next to the Rhubarb Tavern was the Barton Hill Pottery owned by James Duffett.

Inside The Rhubarb can be found a stone fireplace bearing the initials D.T.A and the date 1672. The fireplace came from the house that once stood opposite the Rhubarb Tavern called Tillys Courthouse or Queen Ann House as it was known locally. The initials stand for Thomas A. Day who owned the house, he was a wealthy soap maker. At various times he was Sheriff, M.P and twice Lord Mayor of Bristol (once in 1687 then in 1694). The House was demolished in 1894 when the fireplace was moved. Apart from the many coats of paint the fireplace is well preserved.

The landlords through the years were 1861-1889 Thomas Church, 1891-1892 Joshua Eccleston, 1894-1897 Joseph Eccleston, 1899 Captain William Janes, 1901 Joseph W. Janes, 1904-1906 David Evans, 1914 Jenkin Jones, 1917-1931 Catherine Evans, 1935-1938 Henry Whitfield, 1944 Charles Moore, 1950 William Davey, 1953 Thomas Greenslade, 1960 W.H. Bullock.